Press release -
Strong foothold in German market
VisitScotland is aiming to get an even stronger foothold in the German market, showcasing the world’s largest indoor climbing arena to a group of influential event organisers.
The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho, which has a delegate capacity of 1,800, is one of several leading venues being visited during a familiarisation (fam) trip organised by the national tourism organisation’s Business Events team.
The four-day trip around Scotland, which begins on Thursday 17 March and also takes in businesses in St Andrews, Dundee and Aberdeen City & Shire, has been put together for a group of 11 event organisers who typically arrange conferences, meetings and other corporate events for 250-plus people.
Other businesses on the itinerary are the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC); Assembly Hall, the National Museum of Scotland; the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa (St Andrews); Fairmont St Andrews;, the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre (AECC) and the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen.
The event organisers will also be given a presentation on Dundee’s Waterfront redevelopment at the city’s Apex hotel.
The German market plays a key role in Scotland’s £1.9 billion business events industry. After the United States and UK, Germany is the third largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) market in the world.
Amanda Ferguson, Meeting and Incentives Marketing Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Germany is a key market for Scotland’s business events industry, and fam trips are the perfect way to experience some of the best venues, hotels, restaurants and experiences that this country has to offer. I’m sure this group will have an enjoyable and informative trip around Scotland and we hope that it will inspire them to bring their large events here in the future.”
VisitScotland Business Events Germany fam trip itinerary (17-20 March 2016):
Edinburgh & The Lothians:
Hopetoun House (South Queensferry) and mini Highland Games with Blue Sky Experiences
National Museum of Scotland
Radisson Blu
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa
The Balmoral
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Assembly Hall, Edinburgh First
The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
Fife:
The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa
Fairmont St Andrews
Dundee & Angus:
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa, Dundee (presentation on the city’s Waterfront redevelopment)
Aberdeen City & Shire:
Dunnottar Castle
Ardoe House Hotel
Village of Footdee
Beach Ballroom
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- business events
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the current 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- Join the conversation at #IAD2016
- Events can join the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design Partner Programme throughout the year by visiting http://www.eventscotland.org/YIAD_partner_programme
